With Intel’s support, Marilog Elementary School in the Southern Philippines launched its first solar-powered PC laboratory in July 2010. The laboratory is the result of a partnership between Intel, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Philippine Department of Energy, the Philippine Department of Education, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and SunPower Foundation.

Intel provided five Intel Atom-based netbooks and 1 ultra-low voltage laptop to the program and the school accessed electricity to power the computers through solar energy provided by the AMORE Program. In addition, Intel trained 17 teachers on the ‘Intel Teach: Getting Started’ program, an introductory course to software productivity tools and student-centered learning approaches for teachers with little or no technology experience.

The school is one of many off-grid schools in Marilog District of Davao City, Southern Philippines and this pilot will help in the development of a deployment guide to build cost-effective solar PC labs, fuelling future ICT use into the long-term. The overarching goal is to improve the teaching and learning environment in schools through the use of student-centered approaches, with appropriate use of technology for learning, creativity, and communication.